A copy of this News Release can be downloaded from www.isdartrt.org
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BLM Won’t Increase Recreation Fees at Imperial Dunes for Upcoming Season

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it will not increase recreation fees at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area for the upcoming 2004-2005 season.

The BLM and Dunes Technical Review Team (TRT) representatives expressed concerned about increasing the fees. “The impacts to each visitor are of concern to the BLM, however, we need to balance that with the financial needs to manage the area.” said Greg Thomsen, the BLM El Centro Field Office Manager.

In addition to the financial impact to visitors, BLM also had to consider other factors:
· The uncertainty when BLM may receive U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Biological Opinion
· The impacts of pending litigation
· The uncertainty when the Final Recreation Area Management Plan may be approved

“BLM will continue to provide a high level of service in the 2004 /2005 season starting in October,” added Thomsen. “However, ongoing services for public safety, as well as the regular operations, maintenance, and resource conservation activities come at a high price.”

Visitors can support the Dunes and offset those costs by purchasing their recreation permit for next season early. The 2004-2005 season permits will be available August 1, 2004, at www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro.

On October 1, 2003 visitors saw an increase of fees to $25 per week and $90 for a season pass. The increased fees allowed the agency to better recoup its costs of managing this popular area.

Even with the increase, the BLM had to cut back on planned expenditures during the last season. Many tangible amenities that visitors are requesting such as toilet facilities and increased camping space will be delayed due to budget shortfalls now occurring. The public can help the BLM try and keep fees down in the future through voluntary compliance, which is a key issue to setting fee rates.

The continued “Zero Tolerance” law enforcement initiative over the last few years is working, Thomsen said. Serious crimes have been reduced, and families are filling the campgrounds once again and enjoying the safe atmosphere.

For more information contact Neil Hamada at (760) 337-4400.

-BLM-

visit our website at www.ca.blm.gov

Even with the increase, the BLM had to cut back on planned expenditures during the last season. Many tangible amenities that visitors are requesting such as toilet facilities and increased camping space will be delayed due to budget shortfalls now occurring. The public can help the BLM try and keep fees down in the future through voluntary compliance, which is a key issue to setting fee rates.



I guess race gas is costin








Heres your voluntary compliance

That's the question of the year.

It costs alot of money to collect all of those fees!!!

Don't often see fees go down...while probably not popular, I don't mind paying the $90 - cheaper than disneyland and a whole lot more fun. As someone else said before, the more money we generate for them, the more important it is to keep G open.

<----- Doesn't go to Disneyland

Hey, if you don't mind then how 'bout picking up my tab?

So, in ten years, after this program gets completely raided of funds... (just like every single other program ever devised by congress), shall we start another program to fund this program, which is filling in for the Green Sticker program, which is meant to supplement the State and Federal funds that we all pay into for the purpose of having public lands?

And ten years after that, start another program to fund the new program which is funding this program which is funding...

Awww crap... who the hell knows anymore???

PastorVor

Unfortunantly, the writing is on the wall. The proposed "replacement" for Demo Fee has this interesting THREE TIER system of paying...

you know i thought the 90 was ok when they said they were gonna put more camp pad and toilets etc in but the only thing i saw was they tared the cracks in gecko road and got a new buggy?????????????????????????

But if they hadn't have tarred those cracks and gotten the new buggy, they would have had to shut down the ISDRA.